Advice Pack The PAS2035 stages - Stage one – Preliminary Work
Introduction
Preliminary work is the first stage in the PAS2035 process and includes all work that needs to be done prior to any retrofit assessment, planning or construction.
Contents
What is Preliminary Work in the PAS2035 process?
Preliminary work is the first stage in the PAS2035 process and includes all work that needs to be done prior to any retrofit assessment, planning or construction. The key components of preliminary work are:
- Establishing intended outcomes (all projects)
- Identifying archetypes (project specific)
Preliminary work is important because it sets up the expectations and parameters for any retrofit work. It is the first stage in the PAS2035 process:
- Preliminary work
- Retrofit assessment
- Pre-stage coordination
- Planning permission
- Construction coordination
- Post-stage coordination
Intended Outcomes
Understanding the intended outcomes of a project is crucial before any assessment or planning begins so that you know what you are trying to achieve with these plans. The intended outcome should be decided in a consultation between the Retrofit Coordinator and the client. These outcomes must consider the current condition of the building(s) and express the improvement desired.
- Examples of intended outcomes could be:
- Elimination of damp and mould.
- Improved thermal comfort of the building(s).
- Meeting Passive House EnerPHit standard.
- Reducing energy consumption to a set value.
- Protecting a building against decay.
- Improving resilience against flood risk.
- Protection or enhancement of architectural heritage.
- Improving the management of moisture within the building.
Identification of archetypes
What is archetyping?
Archetyping is the process of categorising dwellings into types based on their characteristics and features. It is particularly useful in large-scale retrofit projects where multiple similar dwellings are being improved. By using the same solutions for multiple properties, the process can be made more efficient and economies of scale can be achieved.
When in the retrofit process should archetyping take place?
Archetyping should happen during the ‘Preliminary Work’ stage of the retrofit process as it enables the retrofit design to begin based on assessments of archetypes before all individual assessments are completed.
Once archetypes have been determined, the retrofit design process can take place with an archetype assessment, archetype improvement options evaluation, and archetype medium term improvement plans.
For what properties can archetyping be used?
Archetyping should be used where you have dwellings of similar character and condition. Examples of this include:
- Multiple flats within one building.
- Multiple houses across an estate.
- Modification for individual dwellings
While archetyping provides a general framework, individual dwellings must still undergo specific retrofit assessments by the time that installation is carried out to account for unique features and variations.
If there are any features of dwellings which differentiate them from the rest of the archetype, these must be reported.
What happens next?
Once you have an understanding of the intended project outcomes and any relevant archetypes to your project, the next stage in the retrofit process is the Retrofit Assessment. Please see the relevant advice note for more information.
Useful links
You can download a free copy of PAS2035;2023 here.